Getting rid of tough stains in old apartments

Finding an apartment can be exhausting, and when you finally get one, old stains might pose a real battle.

Stains on the windows, floor, walls and worse of them all is the porcelain in the bathroom. your landlord might fix some of these issues or not. if he missed out on them, here is what you can do to turn that hell hole into a haven.

For stained toilet bowls and sinks:

Close the shutoff valve typically located behind the toilet. Flush the toilet to get rid of the excess water.

2. Fill a container with 1 to 2 cups of baking soda and gradually add just enough vinegar to make a paste. Adding too much vinegar to the baking soda may cause it to react and overflow the container.

3. Put on a pair of rubber gloves and apply the paste to the hard water stains with your gloved hands. Allow the paste to sit for at least 10 minutes to loosen the buildup.

4. Scrub the toilet bowl thoroughly with a toilet brush or wet pumice stone. Open the shutoff valve and flush the toilet twice to rinse.

Mix the flour and soap together then add water until you have the consistency of sour cream.

Cover the spot with the poultice so it’s about 1/4″ inch thick and overlaps it by about 1/4″.

Cover with plastic wrap for 24 hours.

Wash off poultice and surrounding area with soap and water. If spot is still there, reapply poultice.

For stained window panes and glass surfaces

solutions range from magic eraser sponge to toothpasTe. here is how you can apply them:

A. NON-LIQUID CLEANERS

These cleaners do not require water.

using cleaning pads

Use “magic” and “eraser” cleaning pads or other non-scratching scrubbing sponges to safely scrub your glass surfaces. Try to remove as much as you can by scrubbing with one of these moistened sponges.

Never use hard-bristled brushes or abrasive cleaning tools when cleaning glass to avoid scratching or etching the glass surface.

Scrubbing works best on smaller hard water deposits, newer stains, and those that are not firmly set in.

2. using backing soda

Baking soda is a base (alkaline), so it can be used to chemically counteract the effects of hard water mineral deposits.

Because it is a natural, biodegradable product, baking soda is considered to be a safe, environmentally-friendly alternative to harsh chemical cleaners.

There are two schools of thought for using baking soda to clean: one camp claims that you can mix baking soda with vinegar to make an effective paste, while others claim that you should not use vinegar (an acid) and baking soda (a base) at the same time because they will cancel out each others’ pH benefits.

As a compromise, try applying some white vinegar to the stain first, waiting 30 minutes, and then applying baking soda before scrubbing and thoroughly rinsing away the stain.

3. using toothpaste

Apply some regular toothpaste to a moist towel and rub it over the stain using circular motions.

Wait a few minutes, and then rinse off the paste with equal parts water and vinegar to remove all residue.

4. using commercial paste cleanners

The main benefit of using a paste over liquid cleaner is that the paste will not leave its own liquid streaks or water marks.

A downside to using paste products, though, is that they can leave behind a foggy haze if not buffed off of the glass. Be sure to follow all the label instructions to avoid this side effect.

B. LIQUID CLEANERS

1.using salt and water

Combine salt and water and use the mixture to remove the mineral buildup. The salt acts as a scouring powder and can cut through the stain. Apply the mixture to the area and use a clean cloth to rub the stain in a circular motion. Rinse the glass thoroughly when finished to remove all salt water residue.

2. using white vineger

Vinegar is an acid, which helps to loosen mineral deposits, and white vinegar is clear/colorless enough to not cause any staining. It’s also a natural liquid cleaner that isn’t toxic and won’t potentially burn your eyes or lungs like other chemical cleaners.

Mix some lemon juice into the vinegar to increase the effectiveness and add a fresh lemon scent. Lemon juice (another an acid) has the same effect on minerals as vinegar.

Put your vinegar and lemon juice in a spray bottle and slightly warm them in the microwave, for 20-40 seconds depending on your microwave. Warmed cleaner can be more effective at lifting stains than cold or room temperature cleaner. Just be sure to remove the spray bottle top so that it doesn’t explode in the microwave.

Spray the vinegar solution on the glass and let it stand for about 2-3 minutes before wiping it clean with a dry, lint-free cloth or a paper towel.

To remove hard water stains from drinking glasses and other small glass items, fill a basin with a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water, and allow the items to soak in the solution for several hours before rinsing thoroughly.

3. You can try super-charging your regular all-purpose window/glass cleaner with some ammonia in order to cut through hard water stains.